How many Cali owners fit winter tyres?

[Borris]

Hi Boris . Good to meet up on the Micro Brewery Trip . I looked into this a couple of years ago and the issue is that if you’re going to the Alps in Winter where you are legally required to carry chains there’s a problem . The Cali handbook says that you can’t fit chains to the Vw supplied Goodyear all seasons on Vw 17 in ally’s presumably because there is insufficient clearance . You have to fit narrower tyres . So I got a set of Dunlop Winter Sports on 17 in steels . These should be used at 7 deg C and below . They work very well . Narrower tyres work better in snow . I remember driving a Citroen 2 cv in the Cairngorms in the 1970s in mid winter on thick ice with summer tyres . They were great ( bit less power though ) .

As an aside I find I get 3 or 4 more mpg on the narrrower Winter tyres .

Ps Merribel was full of T5s and T6s 4 motions ferrying people to chalets last February . The drivers said they were the best . Our T5 4 motion stuck to the ice like glue even on steep hills ! And we were camping .

Hello Trebor,
Yes, it was a great weekend and it was nice to meet you too. I believe that there maybe another similar weekend meet next year and I hope that you can make it.

For all those people living or visiting higher altitude areas then if they aren't already mandatory then there's no question, winter tyres are a must have. However we don't have many Alps in Kent and apart from the occasional light sprinkling of slush, winter usually consists of mainly endless weeks of depressing mild grey dampness.

My dilemma is simply do I fit them or sell them? We do get heavy snow about every ten years or so but that always results in the village being cut off so there's no point in having winter tyres then. I have also read on this forum that VW don't recommend winter tyres for the vehicles destined for the UK market.

 

[Trebor]

The

Hello Trebor,
Yes, it was a great weekend and it was nice to meet you too. I believe that there maybe another similar weekend meet next year and I hope that you can make it.

For all those people living or visiting higher altitude areas then if they aren't already mandatory then there's no question, winter tyres are a must have. However we don't have many Alps in Kent and apart from the occasional light sprinkling of slush, winter usually consists of mainly endless weeks of depressing mild grey dampness.

My dilemma is simply do I fit them or sell them? We do get heavy snow about every ten years or so but that always results in the village being cut off so there's no point in having winter tyres then. I have also read on this forum that VW don't recommend winter tyres for the vehicles destined for the UK market.

The Met Office is forecasting a very cold winter due to El Niño and I recon that it's about 10 years since we last had heavy snow in Bournemouth on the beach . You don't want to tempt fate Boris . Just saying !

 

[Borris]

The

The Met Office is forecasting a very cold winter due to El Niño and I recon that it's about 10 years since we last had heavy snow in Bournemouth on the beach . You don't want to tempt fate Boris . Just saying !

Mmmm! Maybe you're right and it would be tempting fate to sell them.

I think I will fit them after all if/when the temperatures start to drop. My scepticism is because these are the first winter tyres I have ever owned in forty seven years of driving. Whilst winter tyres are always desirable and offer better cold weather performance, I have always managed quite well without any problems in the past.

 

[RodCouncil]

We've had our first drop of the season, never seen chains used in Sweden though, our winter spikes on previous car and now Bianca work so well.

 

[B J G]

I think our avatar tells all

Didn't fit any and stuck at home??

 

[SimonB]

We too have winter tyres, Cargo Vectors on steel wheels. After one rather worrying episode on a steep Welsh hill in the snow and slush it seemed a sensible idea.
I don't tend to go into the mountains as much as I did previously. I now stay mainly on the lower roads which are mostly cleared. In an earlier life I looked after Winter Maintenance on behalf of local councils and was regularly on call so have seen a lot of unprepared drivers stuck in the snow.
I have put the winter tyres on both winters since we had the California and have not really needed them either time. I shall put them on soon because to have them and not use them seems a bit like tempting fate.
If I don't need them that is all to the good. I don't find a decrease in mpg or an increase in tyre noise from having them on.

 

[B J G]

Nokian now do an all year tyre that has the snowflake symbol making it legal in European countries for winter fitment.
With C (fuel) - A (wet) and 69dB noise ratings it ticks the boxes.
Fits my criteria with a 4Motion without going into another set of wheels/tyres.

Only available for 17" Cali sizes. I'd expect 18" 255/45 to appear in future.

https://www.nokiantyres.com/all-weather-tyres/nokian-weatherproof/

 

[GrannyJen]

We too have winter tyres, Cargo Vectors on steel wheels. After one rather worrying episode on a steep Welsh hill in the snow and slush it seemed a sensible idea.
I don't tend to go into the mountains as much as I did previously. I now stay mainly on the lower roads which are mostly cleared. In an earlier life I looked after Winter Maintenance on behalf of local councils and was regularly on call so have seen a lot of unprepared drivers stuck in the snow.
I have put the winter tyres on both winters since we had the California and have not really needed them either time. I shall put them on soon because to have them and not use them seems a bit like tempting fate.
If I don't need them that is all to the good. I don't find a decrease in mpg or an increase in tyre noise from having them on.

I found the same. No impact whatsoever on MPG and quite frankly, after winter tyres and 4 season I found my last on Albert, Dunlop sports (summer) to be the noisiest.

I suspect that what I have on Alfie will be off sooner rather than later.

 

[Palm]

Have to in Sweden

 

[sbmcd]

I fit winters on mine, live in the countryside in Scotland, like skiing and hiking which takes me to areas and roads more likely to get snow, also carry chains and shovel.

Got 3 winters out my last set, once down to 4 mm kept them on till they were worn out, no point taking them off as no longer useful as winter tyres.

Now getting much cooler, -2 this morning south of Edinburgh, no snow at lower levels yet, expect to fit my winters once the snow arrives.

Photo from Glencoe ski centre website yesterday, it is coming.

 

[greenfintry]

Yes fitted steels and winter Nokia’s last week... stops the alloys getting corroded and last night on way home ditches littered with cars slid off etc. Central Scotland first snowfall effect

 

[RichardH]

In recent years there have been more and more references in the motoring press to the use of winter tyres. In days of old their use was extremely uncommon in the less extreme areas of the UK but now more people seem to be fitting them despite our winters now becoming increasingly mild, grey and wet. Last year I changed to winter tyres on steels wheels at the beginning of November and changed back to summers at the beginning of April. I can't say that the exercise was worth it because here in the south east the temperatures rarely dropped below zero and we didn't get much if any snow and ice. So far this year I haven't bothered to fit them as the temperatures haven't dropped sufficiently to warrant there use.

Leaving aside the more extreme areas of the uk or continent where winter tyres are either mandatory or a practical necessity, how many California owners swop to winter tyres and when?

Always keen to
I live

My steel wheels and winter tyres went on last week

Our winter set on steels will be going on next week. We live up a short but steep road in the mid-Pennines where the gritters don’t always come. We’ve also been glad to have them in early April in the Spanish mountains.

 

[Gavinskii]

I have set of winter wheels and tyres which for the last 2 years I have fitted in Nov and removed in March. I have put them on principally for the annual ski trip to Europe over Christmas.
This year we are going skiing at Easter, so holding fire on the fitting for now (being in South East), but if this ends up being a harsh winter, I am prepared!

 

[Roger Boeken]

Switched original turanza summer tires for michelin crossclimate+ ,used to have a set of steel wheels with winter tires before I owned a cali. Winters in Belgium are grey and wet and only few days with snow. However
it depends, of course, on where you plan to travel .
As we often cross the border with Germany and luxembourg where winter tires are mandatory I think 4season tires was the best option .
But if you really intend to drive in to the mountains where snowchaines may be mandatory think twice before choosing wintertires or 4season tires. I learned from this forum , unfortunately after buying crossclimate+ 235/55R17 , that you cannot use snow chains on all size of tires on the cali.
4season tires are also little more noisy and may increase fuel consumption a bit ,though driving style is the most important way to save fuel I believe .

 

[TOADY]

In recent years there have been more and more references in the motoring press to the use of winter tyres. In days of old their use was extremely uncommon in the less extreme areas of the UK but now more people seem to be fitting them despite our winters now becoming increasingly mild, grey and wet. Last year I changed to winter tyres on steels wheels at the beginning of November and changed back to summers at the beginning of April. I can't say that the exercise was worth it because here in the south east the temperatures rarely dropped below zero and we didn't get much if any snow and ice. So far this year I haven't bothered to fit them as the temperatures haven't dropped sufficiently to warrant there use.

Leaving aside the more extreme areas of the uk or continent where winter tyres are either mandatory or a practical necessity, how many California owners swop to winter tyres and when?

Always keen to drive on the most appropriate rubber, I got the dealer to include a set of winters as part of the deal. However, I am now starting to question whether they are really worth all the hassle?

Hello Borris,
As I enjoy the wilder parts and frequently wild camp, the tyres and rims used by other Cali owners are of interest to me.
Within the first year of ownership I found the limits of adhesion several times in off-road situations.
As soon as justifiable I changed to all season tyres with the radial water clearing grooves slightly staggered giving noticeable improvement in grip on wet grass at least.
I also prefer the 16” rims for my offroad adventures as the higher section tyre walls give more protection for the rims from those annoying stones that flick up from under the edge of tyres and when having to go over the edge of single track roads where the substrate has been washed out.
For ultimate traction 4motion hangs in a bubble over my head.
There is a reduction in the ultimate quality of handling, but with a history in motor sport and the Cal chipped I enjoy the challenge of putting the Cal on the correct line and power on in the appropriate places to enjoy my journeys.
The later two more than compensating for tyre selection, at least in normal conditions.
For those of you who attended the Bolsover/ Tall Trees event my forum ID has changed from Chris#2010T5 to TOADY.
What great weather this weekend!!

 

[Borris]

Interesting answers.

If I lived in any of the areas of the UK or the Continent where due to their altitude or location suffer much more extreme weather and much lower temperatures then I too would have already fitted my winter tyres as well. Indeed they are compulsory in some some countries between certain dates in the year. However the question in my original post was, "Leaving aside the more extreme areas of the uk or continent where winter tyres are either mandatory or a practical necessity, how many California owners swop to winter tyres and when?"

So to clarify, if you don't live or intend to visit any of these areas, do you swop to winter tyres and when?"

It's now late November and so far in Kent at least, whilst we have had the odd frost, on the whole the temperature or conditions haven't been suitable to make fitted winter tyres worth while.

However, regardless of where you live or go, please keep posting. All answers are welcome.

 

[Barryjm]

Winter, or rather mud and snow, tyres on all year round. I only do low mileage, up to 4000 miles per year and the summer original tyres were forever spinning on wet camping site grass, in fact, they tended to spin on almost anything wet!!! My Vredestein winter tyres are great, they grip very well in the wet and soggy grass. Not noticed any difference to summer driving as driving a Cali doesn’t really involve pushing the tyres to the limits of their abilities! I have the original 16inch alloys on my 2009 Cali.

However, if starting afresh, the image conscious side of me might want larger, sexier alloys and all season tyres, but the practical side of me would stick to what I have! Thank goodness I don’t have this dilemma


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Alain]

I just swapped my 17" Turanza's for some Michelin Agilis Alpin 215/60R17 on steel wheels. For winter tyres it's best to go narrow, so that's why I took 215 instead of 235. It also makes fitting snow chains easier. If you have a decent jack and a 18V impact wrench, you can change the wheels in 30-45'.

We go snowboarding a few times a year so for us winter tyres are essential. If I wouldn't go to the alps in winter, I would still use them because it makes such a difference when conditions are really bad. Also, since your summer tyres will last twice as long, the only extra cost you'll have are the 4 steel wheels which shouldn't be that expensive.

Never rode with all season tyres, maybe if you don't travel during winter that might be an option.

 

[Aidy P]

I live in the Yorkshire Dales and use the van throughout winter where it isn’t always gritted. I’ve also taken the van to the Alps for skiing.

My youngest daughter for her birthday wanted to go camping (Mid December) across the N Yorks Moors to Whitby.

= Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme on a separate set of steels from Oct to April.

Ps it was snowing last night on the drive home!

 

[Borris]

Well it's now getting cold in Kent and having just read the long term weather predictions for the UK this winter I have finally chickened out and fitted the winter tyres. That should ensure another very mild, grey, damp winter in the south east.

 

[Teejay]

I'm still looking at going all season. I have a set of 4 alloys and Continental winters for my ex XC60 that I'm having trouble selling. I want the space back under the stairs.

 

[Trebor]

Steels and Dunlop Winter Sport just gone on ( in Bournemouth ) ready for Alps or Scotland .

 

[TOADY]

Steels and Dunlop Winter Sport just gone on ( in Bournemouth ) ready for Alps or Scotland .

Hi Trebor,
What size steels have you chosen and from where did you source them.
I think this has the makings of a long hard winter so will need more than the General Eurovan A/S 365 All seasons currently fitted to my standard 16” alloys to enjoy trips into the mountains.
Though I have noticed a great improvement on grass excursions on wet gradients.

 

[Trebor]

.
I got a new set of genuine 17 in VW steels with Dunlop Winter Sport 215/60/17 unused from Benn ( who’s on this forum ) near Ashford Kent for my 4 motion . They are correct size for snow chains according to manual.They are taken off new vans in Germany . I think a number of forum members have had wheels / tyres off him in the past .He's a really nice guy and very helpful . I can recommend him

 

[TOADY]

.
I got a new set of genuine 17 in VW steels with Dunlop Winter Sport 215/60/17 unused from Benn ( who’s on this forum ) near Ashford Kent for my 4 motion . They are correct size for snow chains according to manual.They are taken off new vans in Germany . I think a number of forum members have had wheels / tyres off him in the past .He's a really nice guy and very helpful . I can recommend him

Thank you